Pride and pageantry mark tradition-rich annual Pow Wow

Saturday

Sep 2, 2017 at 7:33 PMSep 2, 2017 at 7:34 PM

Almendra Carpizo Record Staff Writer @AlmendraCarpizo

STOCKTON — Genevieve Lemaster stood under the shade of a canopy tent and fanned her grandson.

The temperature had already soared to 105 degrees by 1:30 p.m. Saturday, but besides taking quick reprieves from the sun under some shade and drinking water, Lemaster was quick to join the other dancers in the arena at the 36th annual Labor Day Stockton Pow Wow at University of the Pacific. And she wasn’t alone. Many adults, teens and children donned beaded, feathered and elaborate American Indian regalia and endured the unforgiving sun as they performed traditional dances.

For Lemaster, who was the powwow’s head woman dancer, it was important to set an example and keep the culture going, the 45-year-old Leemore resident said.

“We’re out here because you think about our ancestors and what they went through and the sacrifices they made for our people, our ways, our traditions, our dances,” she said. “(This heat is) nothing compared to what our ancestors went through.

“It’s humbling and it’s honorable to be in the arena,” she said.

The Labor Day Pow Wow is a three-day intertribal gathering, which continues today from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Pacific. People came from throughout California and western Nevada to participate in the event.

Christine Rosado, the chairwoman for the event, said the powwow is more than a social gathering but a ceremony where people pray for their families, people and Earth. It’s also about coming together as a family and showcasing the traditions that been preserved by the adults in order to teach the youth, she added.

“It’s a way to show the community and America at large that we’re not gone, … we’re still here, we’re still vibrant, we’re still carrying on,” she said. “We’re not what you see in Hollywood and we’re not the bits and snippets you learn in your fourth-grade missions (lessons).”

Families gathered under canopy tents around a sun-drenched area of grass at Pacific’s campus to watch the dances and ceremonies, while other people milled around at the vendor booths selling jewelry, clothing and leather goods. A few booths sold traditional Indian tacos and buffalo burgers, but water and snow cones were hot commodities.

Randy Pico, 57, can still remember his first powwow experience as a young teen: It was at the Pomona County Fair and there was a sign that pointed to “Live Indians.” His uncle was the master of ceremonies that day, he said.

On Saturday, Pico was the master of ceremonies, and he was pleased to see people still participating in the longstanding intertribal event and that it was very similar to the first one he attended.

“I’m very happy that largely the powwow traditions have stayed the same,” he said. “If it changes, it’s no longer powwow. Those traditions need to stay the same, they should stay the same.”

“It’s incredible because what you’re seeing is the next generation of young people, American Indian, people being able to be proud of who they are and where they’re from and culturally enrich themselves and others around them,” said Pico, a Livermore resident.